Using apps instead of the browser (desktop, email, gmail, server)

[robertpasa]

Most people with tablets/phones will use a mail app, not the browser. Although on my desktop, I just use gmail inside the browser. I see no need to use an app just for the mail.

Why do people tend to use the mail apps and not the browser? One possibility is that the browser email might have ads. Although when I use gmail in the browser there are few ads. There are also differences in formatting, or certain features which are only in the app. Is that the idea?

[Muevelos]

for me it can be easier because I'm on my phone more and I get notifications as soon as I receive an email. And if it is an important email that time saved is very important! I will agree for a lot of apps on the phone, I'd rather use the desktop site.

App: tap and done
Browser: tap, type in url, log in, finally get mail but in a clunkier interface that's missing features like push notifications

[stanley-88888888]

i always use a pop3 client on the p.c. its just simpler.

[Brian_M]

for mail, I always use an app (thunderbird, on PC ~ don't have or want a phone), and all my mail is setup for IMAP so I can check from anywhere. Was more handy when I had multiple computers, not so much now that I'm retired and only have 1 computing device.. other than I never need to worry about losing stuff in a computer crash.

Webmail has always been clunky, something I ditched about 2 decades ago when I setup my first domain and mail server.

[matisse12]

For twitter, I highly prefer the original desktop browser version. I cannot understand nor follow properly nor get good readouts using a twitter app.

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

Most people with tablets/phones will use a mail app, not the browser. Although on my desktop, I just use gmail inside the browser. I see no need to use an app just for the mail.

Why do people tend to use the mail apps and not the browser? One possibility is that the browser email might have ads. Although when I use gmail in the browser there are few ads. There are also differences in formatting, or certain features which are only in the app. Is that the idea?

Or maybe because it works the way email should? People use apps on PC's to read email, too. Maybe you've heard of Outlook? Windows mail works great too on Win10. The browser is a last resort for some people.

[robertpasa]

When I use gmail through my browser, if I get a new email, a "(1)" will appear in that tab right away. So notifications are good enough for me on the browser.

To BrianM: what do you mean when you say all your mail is imap so you can check from anywhere? If you use browsers, you can also check from anywhere.

Is there something specific about mail apps that make the browser seem clunky by comparison?

[Peregrine]

Yea, but you have to be logged in to your browser to get those notices. You don't if you use a mail client.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

Most people with tablets/phones will use a mail app, not the browser. Although on my desktop, I just use gmail inside the browser. I see no need to use an app just for the mail.

Why do people tend to use the mail apps and not the browser? One possibility is that the browser email might have ads. Although when I use gmail in the browser there are few ads. There are also differences in formatting, or certain features which are only in the app. Is that the idea?

For one thing I have multiple email accounts and they can all be managed from that single interface. You can do that with Gmail but you would have to forward all the email to Gmail.